Power-transmitting mechanism for bicycles.



PATBNTED APR. 10, 1906.

L. GOMBET. POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM FOR BICYGLES.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 8, 1905 k E D; m 28 O N T w A Nm 5 w. m L

W I'T'NESSES- No. 817,225. PATENTED APR.10, 1906 L. UOMBET.

POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM FOR BIGYGLES.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.8,1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTQR, Low 5 COMBE'R H s ATTORNEY.

No. 817,225. I .PATENTED APR.10, 1906.

' L. GOMBET.

POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM FOR BICYOLES.

APPLICATION FILED APILB, 1905 4r SHEBTS-LSHEET a. v

' \N lTNESSES; \NVENTQ J Lows C-OMBET a dw/JM/A W Ws ATTQRN EY.

7.225. T PATBNTED APR. 10, 1906.

. L. GOMBET. I POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM FOR BIGYGLES.

APPLICATION FILED APB..8. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEBT 4.

W\TNEssEs- HWENTOR.

Laws COMBET,

W f F ms ATTORNEY,

UNITED STATE- LOUIS COMBET, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

POWER-TRANSMITTING MECHANISM FOR BICYCLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 10,1906.

Application filed April 3, 1905. Serial No. 254,455.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LoUIs OoMBE'r, a citizen of France, residing at Paris, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Power-Transmitting Mechanism for Bicycles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a mechanism of power transmission from a pedal mechanism to the driving-wheel and by which the deadpoint is suppressed or overcome, and which result is obtained by displacing from the front to the rear one of the shafts or all the crank-shafts at the proper moment, so as to make these cranks lose the center of gravity.

In the accompanying drawings ,Figure 1. is

a side view of the mechanism. Fig. 2 is a view in plan and section of the rear part of the mechanism. Fig. 3 is a view in plan and section of the forward part. Fig. 1 is a section of one of the eccentrics. Fig. 5 is a view in plan and section of an eccentric arrangement which can be substituted for the device of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a side view of a modification of the device of Figs. 1 to 5 shown when passing the dead-point. Fig. 7 is a one-half view in plan and section of the mechanism of Fig. 5 with connection of the eccentrics by means of a rod having a turnbuckle or other stretcher. Fig. 8 is a one-half view in plan and section of the same with connections of the eccentrics by means of a chain. Fig. 9 is a side view both in plan and section of one of the crank-eccentrics of Fig. 6, and Fig. 10 is a side view in plan and section of an eccenipio pinion or sprocket of the chain device of is shown in Figs. 1 to 5, this power-multiplying mechanism consists of a frame preferably made up of two plates a, secured to the frame I) of the machine, Fig. 1. To the pedal mechanism 0, which also comprises the pedal-cranks d, are hinged two side levers 6, also fitted to cranks f, carrying ball-bearings g, Fig. 2. Through the case 9 of this ballbearing passes the axle h of a resistancecam i, fixed by means of a conical part i, and a screw-threaded part on which fits an exterior nut The case 9 is bolted to a plate is of circular shape, which is held. by four eccentrics 8 (shown in section in Figs. 4 and 5) and connected with the frame a of the mechanism. This eccentric arrangement serves to annul or overcome the dead-point. Between the disk in and the frame a are fixed both front and rear friction-rollers Z, which serves as points of support for the corresponding resistance-cam i, which produces the power of the levers. This power is transmitted by the levers e and rodsm fixed and regulated by frames m, through which rotatably passes the outwardly-extending pin or projectlon of the cranks n, Figs. 1 and 3. On the axle n of the cranks n is keyed a sprocket-wheel 0, engaged by chain p, which actuates the chain-pinion q, Fig. 2, which is secured to the axle of the driving-wheel 1', Figs. 1, 2, and 3, or otherwise drives it. Owing to this arrangement when the cranks f arrive at the dead-point the eccentric or camt' presses on the friction-roller [at the right in Fig. 1 and forces the axle h from the vertical position and inclines the cranks f forward and a dead-point is thus avoided. The eccentrics s assist in accomplishing the same purpose, and their stress takes effect on the collars s, Fig. 4, which are fixed on their respective plates 7c.

The eccentrics 8 above described may be substituted by the arrangement shown in Fig. 5-that is, by a kind of crank of which one pin .9 is rotatably engaged in the frame a and the other, 8 rotatably engaged in the circular plate is referred to above. In this figure s representsbearings for the axles s and .9 These bearings are fixed on their respective pieces a and it by washers and nuts 8 With this device in pedaling the motion of the cranks (Z of the pedal mechanism will be reproduced at the eccentric arrangement, which will annul or overcome the dead-point by the displacement of their axles, and simultaneously at the cranks a, which will accomplish the movements of the driving-wheel 7".

As a modification of the devices above described Figs. 6 to 10 show a mechanism which employs a form of frame a which differs in details of construction from that shown in Fig. 1. eccentrics t within two collars 15, Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9, and is connected to the rear cranks it, having eccentrics v similar to the eccentrics t, previously described, by means of a rod 11) with stretcher or turnbuckle w and set on ball-bearings t, Fig. 9, or the connections between. the eccentrics t may be obtained, as shown in Figs. 8 and 10, by a chain y passing around two pinions 2, which are eccentrically mounted on the two axles, one of which, 2, belongs to the pedal mechanism and the other, 2 to the crank (Z. The axle a, Fig. 6, of the driving-wheel 1 can be regulated by The pedal mechanism cl is fitted on means of a stretcher with set-screw b, which determines the tension of the chain p, connecting the driving-pinion with the upper chain-wheel 0. For that purpose there are arranged in the body of the frame a two oblique slots (1 to allow a displacement of the aXle by means of a structure with setscrew 1).

I claim 1. In a power-multiplying mechanism for rotatiyely connected with the lever-bars,-

shiftingcams driven by said rear cranks, rollers engaged by said cams, power-transmission cranks and connections therefrom to the leverbars aforesaid, and connections from the power-transmission cranks to the driving-wheel of the bicycle.

2. In a power-multiplying mechanism for bicycles and the like, a pedal mechanism in cluding pedal-cranks, lever-bars connected with and operated by said cranks, rear cranks rotatively connected with the lever bars, shifting means operated by said rear cranks, power-transmiss1on cranks and connections therefrom to the lever-bars aforesaid, and connections from the power transmission cranks to the driving-wheel of the bicycle.

8. In a power-multiplying mechanism for bicycles, and the like, a pedal mechanism including pedal-cranks mounted upon eccentrics, lever-bars connected with. and operated by said cranks, rear cranks rotatively connected with the leverb ars, shifting means for the rear cranks, connected with the pedaleccentrics, and power-transmission connections from the lever-b ars to the driving-wheel of the bicycle.

I11 testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS COMBET. Witnesses:

EDMOND LEoo TURrER, HANSON C. CoXE. 

